France continued their preparations for the 2018 World Cup with an impressive 3-1 win over Italy in Nice on Friday night.
Samuel Umtiti, Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele were all on the scoresheet for a France team who will face United States this weekend before opening their World Cup group campaign against Australia on June 16.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
7.01pmEvening all! Sports Mole's live international friendly coverage continues from Nice as France welcome Italy. There are no points or prizes on offer tonight, but it promises to be a fascinating battle between two real European powerhouses. Just one of these nations – France – is heading to the World Cup this summer, however, with Italy incredibly failing to qualify for the finals of the tournament in Russia. Stay tuned for the live action from Nice. Kickoff is in an hour!
7.04pmTonight will mark the 37th meeting between France and Italy in international football. Italy actually lead the head-to-head 18 wins to 10, but France have been victorious in their last two meetings. Indeed, Les Bleus won 3-1 in their last international friendly back in September 2016, and also triumphed 2-1 when the pair met under similar circumstances in November 2012.
7.07pmThat said, Italy won the last competitive meeting between the two teams, with that 2-0 success occurring in the group stages of Euro 2008. This is also a repeat of the 2006 World Cup final, which Italy won 5-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw. It should be a very interesting game.
7.13pmRight, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news for this match. Italy were in action against Saudi Arabia on Monday - recording a 2-1 victory. France, meanwhile, beat Republic of Ireland 2-0 on the same night. Any changes? Let's run through the two XIs for this match...
7.16pmTEAMS!
FRA: Lloris; Pavard, Rami, Umtiti, Hernandez; Tolisso, Kante, Pogba; Mbappe, Griezmann, Dembele
ITA: Sirigu; D'Ambrosio, Bonucci, Caldara, De Sciglio; Pellegrini, Jorginho, Mandragora; Chiesa, Balotelli, Berardi
7.19pmFrance boss Didier Deschamps has shuffled his pack following the clash with Republic of Ireland on Monday night. Lucas Hernandez, Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembele and Paul Pogba are among those to come into the team, while Hugo Lloris, N'Golo Kante and Benjamin Pavard are also handed starts. It will once again be Adil Rami and Samuel Umtiti at the heart of the defence, with Raphael Varane still absent following his involvement for Real Madrid in the Champions League final.
7.22pmAs for Italy, Mario Balotelli keeps his spot in the starting XI following his goal against Saudi Arabia on Monday night, but Federico Chiesa, who is currently being strongly linked with a move away from Fiorentina, is handed a starting role in a forward position. Domenico Berardi also starts in the final third of the field, while Mattia De Sciglio and Mattia Caldara come into the defence.
7.28pmSo there we have it. The two teams are in, and we are now just about 30 minutes from kickoff in Nice. I shall speak about Italy a little bit later, but let's start with France. As mentioned, Deschamps's side will enter this match off the back of a 2-0 win over Republic of Ireland.
7.32pmOlivier Giroud and Nabil Fekir scored the goals for Les Bleus, who will face Italy tonight before finishing their preparations for the 2018 World Cup against United States on Saturday. Deschamps's side will then open their Group C campaign against Australia on June 16 before also facing Peru and Denmark in the group stages of the competition.
7.35pmFrance are the overwhelming favourites to top their World Cup group, and the European nation are expected to make a serious impression at the tournament when considering the talent in the squad. Les Bleus made the final of Euro 2016 on home soil before losing 1-0 to Portugal.
7.42pmFrance have had a couple of disappointing World Cups, however, having exited the 2010 competition in the group stages, before bowing out in the quarter-finals of the 2014 tournament in Brazil. Not since 1998 have France won the World Cup, but they certainly have the talent to make an impression in Russia. Kickoff tonight is now less than 20 minutes away!
7.45pmItaly, however, incredibly failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup courtesy of their playoff defeat to Sweden. It is the first time since 1958 that the four-time champions have failed to reach the finals of a World Cup, and they must now build for the future under new boss Roberto Mancini.
7.48pmMancini's reign as Italy boss started with a 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia on Monday night, with former Manchester City and Liverpool striker Balotelli marking his first international appearance for four years with a goal. Mancini replaced Gian Piero Ventura as head coach of the Azzurri, and will be expected to lead the nation into the finals of Euro 2020.
7.55pmItaly will take on Netherlands in their next international friendly on Monday night before beginning their UEFA Nations League campaign against Poland in September. Tonight will give a good indication of just how the Italians are shaping up under the new regime.
7.58pmHere we go then; both sets of players have joined us on the pitch ahead of kickoff in Nice. It is France against Italy in an international friendly - stay tuned for minute-by-minute updates!
8.02pmWe are yet to kickoff here - running a few minutes late!
0 minKICKOFF! France kick things off here...
2 min... it must be said that there is a wonderful atmosphere inside the stadium tonight. This has all the makings of a very interesting and indeed open game of football. Let's hope for some goals.
4 minMost of the early football is being played by France, with Mbappe already involved in the final third. The Paris Saint-Germain attacker works some space in a forward area before feeding Pavard, but the right-back cannot find his teammate with a cross. Italy need to use the ball well here.
6 minDembele races into the Italy box as the Barcelona attacker looks to collect a through pass, but Sirigu is out to make the claim. Both teams have had possession in the opening six minutes here.
8 minGOAL! France 1-0 Italy (Umtiti)
9 minFrance make the breakthrough in the ninth minute of this international friendly as Umtiti fires home from close range after Sirigu had kept out an attempt from Mbappe!
11 minItaly do not have a whole host of experience in their XI tonight, and France are very much in charge of the match at the moment as they continue to move the ball in the final third of the field.
13 minFrance continue to pass with pace and purpose as Griezmann, Mbappe and Dembele all interchange in the final third. Italy have not seen much of the ball since conceding here.
15 minThe referee has been very busy in the last few minutes as late challenges continue to occur. Kante is the latest player to be penalised for a high boot on Caldara, who had stayed forward.
16 minBalotelli fires the resulting free kick straight into the France wall.
17 minAnother half-chance for Balotelli as the forward works space in the final third before firing towards goal, but his effort was always rising over the crossbar. Balotelli has been impressive.
18 minItaly are just starting to make moves in the final third, and it is not a surprise that they are causing problems when considering the talent that they possess in the final third of the field.
21 minGriezmann looks to burst away from the Italian midfield, and does a good job of doing so, but Jorginho fells the Atletico forward. Not many chances since Umtiti made the breakthrough here.
21 minPOST! Kane hits the post with a low strike from distance!
22 minSAVE! Super save from Sirigu to keep out a low strike from Mbappe!
24 minMbappe continues to dazzle for France as Italy struggle to deal with the attacker's pace.
26 minCHANCE! Mbappe just misses the post with a curling effort!
28 minLittle over 15 minutes of the first period remaining, and it has been a very open and entertaining game of football. The only surprise is that we have seen just the one goal, and it came from Umtiti.
28 minPENALTY FRANCE!
28 minFrance have a penalty as Lucas Hernandez is brought to the ground by Mandragora. VAR was checked, and the decision goes in favour of the home nation. Griezmann will take the spot kick.
29 minGOAL! France 2-0 Italy (Griezmann, pen)
30 minGriezmann scores his penalty to send France 2-0 ahead here.
33 minItaly have played some good football during stages of the first period, but France are just so dangerous in the final third with Griezmann, Mbappe and Dembele all causing problems.
35 minItaly again pass and probe in the final third, but they are lacking a cutting edge, and Rami smashes the ball down-field as another Italian attack ends without Lloris being tested.
35 minItaly have a free kick in a very dangerous area as Balotelli is felled by Rami...
36 min... GOAL! France 2-1 Italy (Bonucci)
37 minItaly register as Bonucci taps home from close range after Lloris had pushed Balotelli's free kick into his own box! Not sure about the goalkeeping from the Tottenham Hotspur man there!
39 minLittle over five minutes of the first period remaining, and it has been a super half of football. I predicted an open and entertaining match, and that has indeed been the case thus far here.
41 minWonderful move from France as Pogba releases Mbappe, who delivers low towards Dembele, but De Sciglio does really well to make the clearance. Super football from the home side there.
43 minBOOKING! Pellegrini (Italy) is booked for a late challenge on Dembele.
45 minGriezmann fires a free kick straight into the Italy wall as France push for a third in the latter stages of the first period. Balotelli, however, is causing problems down the other end of the field.
45+1 minWe are into the first of two additional minutes of added time here.
45+3 minHALF-TIME: France 2-1 Italy
8.54pmSo there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with France leading Italy 2-1 at the interval. Efforts from Umtiti and Griezmann sent France two goals ahead, but Bonucci had one back for the visitors late in the first half. It has been a very entertaining game of football in Nice.
8.59pmSTATISTICS! France shaded the first-half possession with 54%, while the home side had seven attempts in the opening 45 minutes - four of which were on target. Italy, meanwhile, hit the target with two of their four attempts. Just the one yellow card to report - Pellegrini for the away team.
9.04pmBENCH WATCH! Fekir, Giroud, Lemar, Matuidi and N'Zonzi are among those on the France bench that will be hoping to feature in the second 45 minutes of this match. Meanwhile, Italy boss Roberto Mancini could call upon the likes of Belotti, Florenzi, Insigne and Zaza in the second half.
46 minRESTART! Italy resume the action here...
47 min... no changes from either side at the break, which is not too much of a surprise. However, alterations will occur throughout the second 45 minutes. Let's hope for more goals here.
48 minSAVE! Super save from Lloris to keep out a low strike from Balotelli!
48 minIt has been a fast start to the second period from Italy, and particularly Balotelli. Bonucci has the opportunity to scores his second of the match, but heads straight at Lloris.
48 minCROSSBAR! Wonderful work from Dembele as the France attacker drives into the Italy box before firing towards goal, but his effort strikes the crossbar! End-to-end stuff!
49 minCaldara scoops the ball over the France crossbar as chances continue to arrive in the early stages of the second period. Hardly time to take a breath at the moment - great stuff!
51 minSmart work from Chiesa in a wide position as the Fiorentina attacker breaks down the left before striking towards goal, but Lloris is on hand to make a fairly comfortable save.
53 minCLOSE! Tolisso just misses the post with a low strike following a period of pressure from France. Pogba found the Bayern midfielder, but his effort is just wide.
55 minFrance again break forward through Griezmann, who chips a super pass towards Dembele, but the Barcelona attacker cannot find a teammate. It is such an incredibly open game here.
57 minBerardi swings a free kick over the France crossbar as chances continue to arrive.
59 minMbappe takes a tumble inside the Italy box, but the referee is not interested. We are entering the stage of the match where both managers will be considering making changes here.
62 minFRANCE SUB! Mendy replaces Lucas Hernandez for France.
63 minGOAL! France 3-1 Italy (Dembele)
64 minFrance score their third of the match as Barcelona attacker Dembele finds the top corner of the goal with a wonderful curling effort. Excellent stuff from Dembele there!
66 minITALY SUB! Cristante replaces Pellegrini for the away side.
67 minCLOSE! Balotelli just misses the France crossbar with a header!
69 minCristante misses the France goal with a powerful strike as we head for the final 20 minutes.
71 minFRANCE SUB! Dembele is replaced by Lemar for France.
71 minLittle under 20 minutes of football remaining in Nice, and it has been a super game.
73 minThe fact that France can bring the likes of Mendy and Lemar off their bench is an indication of the strength of their squad. The likes of Anthony Martial was not even selected in the 23.
74 minITALY SUB! Florenzi replaces D'Ambrosio for the away side.
74 minITALY SUB! Insigne replaces Berardi for the away side.
76 minThe pace of the match has dropped, and that is not a surprise when considering the changes that have been made. Pogba has just fired a long-range strike out for a throw-in here!
78 minBalotelli lifts the ball over the France crossbar from a dangerous position.
78 minFRANCE SUBS! Giroud and Matuidi replace Griezmann and Tolisso.
79 minITALY SUB! Bonaventura replaces Jorginho for the away side.
82 minYou do get the feeling that there is going to be one more goal in this match, but there is no question that the pace of the contest has dropped due to the amount of subs in the second half.
83 minFRANCE SUB! Thauvin replaces Mbappe for the home side.
85 minFrance launch yet another break through Mendy, but the left-back cannot find a teammate with a cross, which allows Insigne to bring the ball clear. Still 3-1 with 85 minutes on the clock here.
86 minSAVE! Super save from Sirigu to keep out an effort from Thauvin!
86 minITALY SUB! Belotti replaces Balotelli for the away side.
87 minFRANCE SUB! N'Zonzi replaces Pogba for the home side.
88 minITALY SUB! Zappacosta replaces Chiesa for the away side.
90 minI should not imagine that there will be too much in the way of added time here.
90+1 minFULL-TIME: France 3-1 Italy
9.56pmSo there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with France recording a 3-1 win over Italy in Nice. A very entertaining international friendly! Thanks for joining Sports Mole for our live coverage once again. See you soon!